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©£T27 1945 Lae Vegas - October 2®, T1§j4 6 mg r \ W 23-1-B ft ,/>? g) This has reference to your latter October 18th ooneernlng the subject of water conservation In the Las Vegas artesian Basin. We have analyzed your letter, as welX^sTstErf''of the 12th, and have discussed this with the general Attorney. Let me emphasize at the cutset that X am not "proposing to furnish water for agricultural purposes." X have consistently and agrasslvely opposed the use of water from the olty mains for agricultural purposes, and X am opposed to It now. The proposed use of water on the searlee tract will be striotly for domestic use. With regard to your proposal that a water committee be appointed to protect the Interests of the Valley In conserving the underground water supply, such an organization now exists, Xn 1940, we discussed with the State Engineer the potential depletion of the under­ground water supply by promiscuous issuance of drilling permits in the Lae Vegae Valley, where more than 400 wells now exist. His response was that in the absence of any protest, he had no other course than to grant the permit. However, recognizing the seriousness of the threat to the underground supply, he suggeeted the organization of a Water Conservation District in the Valley, as provided by the Nevada Statutes. This was done, and the City of Las Vegas, County of Clark and Las Vegas Land and Water Co. became members. An artes­ian wells supervisor was employed, working under the direction of the State Engineer, and his salary was paid through donations from the above named members until the State Engineer had time to set up a revolving fund as provided in the Statutes. The Supervisor is still employed at present and his duties are to shut in wells which are not being put to beneficial use and otherwise prevent the waste of water. Xf you have in mind the appointment of a special committee in addition to the organization out­lined above, those function would be, for instance, the filing of protests against issuance of additional drill­ing permits in this Valley, X am afraid this would not be praotloable for two reasons: First, the personal angle among man more or less closely associated in this community and the reluctance of any committeeman to Mr. Frank strong: